LAC PRISONER

Lucia Pineda Ubau is a prolific Nicaraguan journalist and the news director at 100% Noticias, where she has worked for over ten years. Pineda was arrested on December 22, 2018, when police and paramilitary forces raided the office of 100% Noticias and took them off air. She was charged with “fomenting, planning and conspiring to commit terrorist acts” for the outlet’s coverage of protests against the government. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the raid and arrest as an “unacceptable escalation of the Nicaraguan government’s crackdown on the country’s independent media.”

On January 26, 2019, World Movement Steering Committee member Ana Gomes joined a European Parliament Special Mission to observe the status of political prisoners in Nicaragua, including Lucia Pineda. Members of European Parliament on the mission interviewed Pineda about her arrest and conditions. For the first month of her imprisonment in El Chipote prison—an interrogation center widely condemned for its use of torture—reports indicate that Pineda was kept in an underground cell where she “slept on the floor or had a bunk without a mattress, suffered from constant mosquito bites, [was] in unhealthy conditions, had skin problems and [was] not allowed to receive sunlight.” She was also not allowed to receive visits from family members.

Around February 1, 2019, Pineda was transferred to La Esperanza women’s prison, where she was finally able to receive a visit from her cousin. However, she is detained in an isolation cell without a toilet. She reports being denied access to sunlight and can only leave her cell to use the bathroom.

The Nicaraguan government terminated broadcasts of 100% Noticias shortly after Mora’s arrest. “100% Noticias was the only independent 24-hour news network that covered the country’s deepening political unrest,” notes a news report. Employees of the station have been arrested or forced into exile for their work with the program.

Other independent media outlets such as Radio Dario, El Confidencial, and Canal 10 have been raided and subject to intimidation by security forces and supporters of the government. The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) denounced the government’s actions as an “evident criminalization of the freedom of expression and an infringement on independent journalism to silence critical voices.”

Miguel Mora is a well-respected journalist and director of the news outlet 100% Noticias. He was arrested on December 22, 2018, alongside news director Lucía Pineda, when police and paramilitary forces raided the office of 100% Noticias and took them off air. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the raid and arrest as an “unacceptable escalation of the Nicaraguan government’s crackdown on the country’s independent media.”

Mora was charged with “promoting and inciting hatred, violence and death” due to the program’s coverage of the protests and criticism of the government. His charges also include kidnapping, murder, and torture—allegations widely applied to protest leaders that guarantee lengthy prison sentences. Mora denies all allegations as a government sanctioned smear campaign. He remains detained in La Modelo men’s prison, where he is allowed only two visits a month. On February 23, 2019, Mora began a hunger strike to protest the denial of a visit by his wife in February. After 10 days without food, he ended the strike at the request of his family.

The Nicaraguan government terminated broadcasts of 100% Noticias shortly after Mora’s arrest. “100% Noticias was the only independent 24-hour news network that covered the country’s deepening political unrest,” notes a news report. Employees of the station have been arrested and harassed for their connection with Mora.

Other independent media outlets such as Radio Dario, El Confidencial, and Canal 10 have been raided and subject to intimidation by security forces and supporters of the government. The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH) denounced the government’s actions as an “evident criminalization of the freedom of expression and an infringement on independent journalism to silence critical voices.”

On January 26, 2019, World Movement Steering Committee member Ana Gomes joined a European Parliament Special Mission to observe the status of political prisoners in Nicaragua, including Miguel Mora. She remarked on Twitter, “All MEPs who visited journalist Miguel Mora in El Chipotle prison, #Nicaragua, 3 days ago, were shocked with the conditions they found him in, extremely weak, for 35 days confined in a dark hole. All he did ask for was … light & a bible. Stop the torture, Pres. Daniel Ortega!”

Mora spent 40 days total in solitary confinement in an underground cell and “has suffered intestinal infections and episodes of trembling due to the unhealthy conditions in that dungeon and the lack of potable water,” noted another Member of European Parliament. “During the visit, we asked the prison’s director to take Miguel Mora out into the sunlight. He needs sunlight, vitamin D. He’s almost blind from being in the dark.” The delegation interviewed Mora, who said his critical opinion of the government remains steadfast despite the continued threat he faces for speaking out.

Irlanda Jerez, a dentist by profession and civil society organizer, was detained on July 18, 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison on charges of “fraud” and “swindling.” It is widely believed that Jerez is being punished for organizing a civil disobedience campaign in the country’s largest market, Mercado Oriental. Beginning on June 4, 2018, Jerez and other shop owners refused to pay taxes to the government to protest its disregard for human rights. “Irlanda always had a patriotic ideology, she does not have the color of any political party. . . .On April 19th when we went out and [security forces] attacked us again, she decided to be one more voice demanding our rights. Her principles are unbreakable,” says her husband, Daniel Esquivel.

On July 18, 2018, National Police stopped Jerez and her husband at a traffic light. The police claimed her car had been involved in a robbery, and arrested Jerez without a warrant. The next day, the Supreme Court published a statement that Jerez had been convicted of “fraud” and “swindling.” However, she was immediately placed in a cell with eight women, all convicted of “terrorism,” a common charge for those who participated in protests. Her husband, a lawyer, notes that those convicted of common offences—including fraud and swindling—are jailed separately from those accused of criminal offences —including terrorism. She is imprisoned in La Esperanza women’s prison, where she currently shares a cell with 17 other women. While imprisoned, she has faced torture for continuing acts of peaceful resistance and for making political statements.

Jerez is being held in inhumane conditions, as are many arrested since the April 2018 protests. A report by Confidencial—a news outlet raided and ransacked by government forces in December 2018—details her holding conditions. “Irlanda Jerez has been for 54 days in an eight by four meters’ cell, in La Esperanza women’s prison along with nine other prisoners…In the room light filters through small slits the size of a concrete block. In 54 days, Jerez has been out in the open for just one hour and has lost 20 pounds.” Since the report, she was transferred to a larger cell holding 19 women total.

Many in the international community fear for Jerez’s safety in La Esperanza prison. Twice, unidentified men have attacked Jerez and her cellmates. On October 26, 2018, a group of armed men broke into the cell containing 17 prisoners with the intent to harm Irlanda Jerez over her refusal to be interrogated several hours before. One woman was left unconscious for three hours, and none received medical care. Prison officials informed Jerez that she had accrued 21 infractions while in La Esperanza and that they intended to transfer her to permanent solitary confinement. “My mom has a record of ‘inappropriate behavior’ for praying, singing the anthem, drawing the national flag, talking to the other prisoners about the corrupt government,” says her daughter. Jerez was returned to the group cell after women in the prison tirelessly campaigned for her return.

On January 26, 2019, World Movement Steering Committee member Ana Gomes joined a European Parliament Special Mission to observe the status of political prisoners in Nicaragua. She interviewed Irlanda Jerez, alongside her cellmates. Jerez testified about being drugged while in holding at El Chipote prison—an interrogation center widely condemned for its use of torture—and the attack she suffered in October.

On February 10, 2019, 20 guards attempted to take three prisoners from a cell containing Jerez. Women in the cell resisted the transfer and were severely beaten by the guards. Two women were eventually taken to an unknown location, where they were incommunicado for at least two days.

Amaya Coppens is a Belgian-Nicaraguan medical student and youth leader detained since September 10, 2018 on charges of kidnapping, illegal possession of firearms, and terrorism. Coppens was “a key figure in the student movement, attending to the injured and bringing food to protesters amid a violent clampdown.” Coppens was taken without a warrant in a raid on her temporary residence by about 20 armed security forces. She was held incommunicado for 9 days in the infamous El Chipote prison—an interrogation center widely condemned for its use of torture.

The 23-year old was a fifth-year student and a member of the student group “Coordinadora Universitaria Democracia y la Justicia,” or University Coordinator for Democracy and Justice. Prior to her arrest, she faced sustained harassment by civilian pro-government mobs and paramilitary forces. In two separate incidents, the message “plomo, plomo” (“lead, lead,” referring to bullets) was written on the exterior of her house, and petrol was pointedly spilled in front of it. In April 2018, she was beaten by pro-government mobs and received death threats on social media. For these reasons, she was forced to move out of her house and continuously move residences for fear for her life.

Coppens remains in pre-trial detention, but her lawyer expects her to be found guilty and sentenced to at least 20 years. “These are political trials. Even if you have the best lawyer in the world, our kids will be found guilty and sentenced. The only way out of this is a change in government,” says her mother in an interview.

While imprisoned in La Esperanza women’s prison, Coppens and her 17 cellmates were attacked by 20 masked and armed men on October 26, 2018. The attack was reportedly in retribution against her cellmate’s refusal to be taken for interrogation four hours prior to the attack. One woman was left unconscious for three hours, and none received medical care for their injuries.

On January 26, 2019, World Movement Steering Committee member Ana Gomes joined a European Parliament Special Mission to observe the status of political prisoners in Nicaragua. She interviewed Coppens about her arrest and imprisonment.

CUBA / Arrested May 2014

Yoelkis is a member of the Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU) and two other young activists were detained by police for staging a protest calling for the release of student and fellow UNPACU member Yohannes Arce Sarmiento.

UPDATE: In November 2017, Yon was released from prison with restrictions on speech and movement. He is not allowed to leave the country nor give public declarations about his case.

Yon Goicoechea is an activist, lawyer, and member of the Voluntad Popular party. He was kidnapped by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) on August 29, 2016. After two days of no contact with family our council, he appeared in court and was charged with possessing explosive materials. Yon was one of the leaders of the 2007 student movement and had only recently returned to Venezuela to advocate for a recall election against President Maduro.

VENEZUELA / Detained on August 31, 2016

UPDATE: In November 2017, Delson was released from prison, but has restrictions on speech and movement. He is not allowed to leave the country nor give public declarations about his case.

Delson Guarate is the mayor of Mario Briceño Iragory and a leading figure in Voluntad Popular, Venezuela’s main opposition party. He was arrested on August 31, 2016, by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) and charged with “financing terrorism and engaging in criminal association.” It is believed he was arrested to stop him from participating in a mass public protest scheduled for the next day. Delson’s health has deteriorated since his imprisonment. On September 12, 2016, Delson was rushed to a military hospital after suffering from internal bleeding. On November 16, he was transferred back to the hospital due to acute gastritis. Lend your voice and share a solidarity tweet to help #SetThemFree!

VENEZUELA / Detained on September 3, 2016

Braulio Jatar is a Chilean-Venezuelan lawyer, journalist, and director of Reporte Confidencia, an independent online news website. He was detained on September 3, 2016, by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (Sebin) while driving to host a radio show. After being held for two days without formal charges, authorities claimed they found $25,000 in his car and charged him with “money laundering.”

CUBA / Arrested May 2014

Yoelkis is a member of the Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU) and two other young activists were detained by police for staging a protest calling for the release of student and fellow UNPACU member Yohannes Arce Sarmiento.

CUBA / Sentenced August 2015

Reinier participated in a number of public civic activities in Havana calling for greater respect for human rights. He was subsequently arrested by authorities for his public activism.

Reinier was charged with “pre-criminal dangerousness” and sentenced to two years of jail. In July 2016, Reinier was arrested again and one year later he was sentenced to four years in jail. Reinier suffers from HIV as well as Hepatitis C, but is being denied proper treatment.

CUBA / Detained May 2014

Ricardo is a member of Unión Patriótica de Cuba (UNPACU) and was arrested in May 2014 by state security after they violently entered the home of his friend Yoelkis Rosabal Flores. The young men had staged a peaceful protest to call for the release of fellow UNPACU activist Yohannes Arce Sarmiento, who was detained at the time.

CUBA / Detained April 24, 2015

Based in Holguín, Cuba, Maria del Carmen Cala Aguilera was an active member of Cuba’s all-female Ladies in White group for about five years prior to her imprisonment. Cala was accused of “attack”–a vague

after she insulted the doctor responsible for the death of her son, who died as a result of medical negligence.

She was charged with “attack” by government authorities, and sentenced to three and a half years in prison. On March 1, 2016, her name was included on a list of 47 verified political prisoners provided by the Cuban American National Foundation to President Raul Castro, who had promised to set political prisoners free if provided a list of their names. He never followed through.

VENEZUELA / Detained June 28, 2014

UPDATE: In December 2017, the Venezuelan National Constituent Assembly recommended the release of more than 80 prisoners under the precondition that they pledged not to repeat their ‘crimes’. Ronny Navarro was among the first prisoners to be actually released at the end of December.

Ronny Navarro was arbitrarily arrested by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) at the airport in Maiquetia, Caracas on June 28, 2014. In early 2014, a large group of young people formed peaceful protest camps in tents throughout the national territory for more than 40 days. Ronny Navarro was one of the leaders of the camp in the Plaza “Alfredo Sadel” in Las Mercedes, Caracas. In the morning on May 8, 2014, the National Guard deployed a surprise operation to dismantle all camps. Everyone in the Plaza Sadel was arrested but only 3 were detained; the rest, including Ronny, had precautionary measures imposed on them.

On May 10, 2014, the public prosecutor imputed Ronny Navarro without incriminating evidence for crimes of conspiracy and obstruction of public roads. Ronny was free but was required to comply with regular reporting. After his arrest on June 28, 2014, the above offenses and additional charges of defiance and contempt were ratified on July 1, 2014. He was judged accordingly because he visited some activists who were on hunger strike a few days earlier, even though he did not violate any express prohibition or remain in a public meeting. After that hearing, Ronny Navarro was detained and sent to the headquarters of SEBIN in The Helix, where it still remains.

On September 17, 2014, the National Prosecutor’s Office requested the transfer of Ronny Navarro back to the Palace of Justice, in order to impute a new crime: conspiracy to rebellion, a charge in response to a supposed video recorded by an undercover agent. In the beginning of November 2015, a spokesman for the Venezuelan government granted Ronny Navarro a humanitarian measure, allowing surgery on the fracture in his left hand. While in prison, Ronny is subjected to searches of his belongings every 15 days. In an effort to pursue freedom, Ronny Navarro unsuccessfully ran for parliament in the 2015 Venezuelan elections. Lend your voice and share a solidarity tweet to help #SetThemFree!

VENEZUELA / Detained May 8, 2014

Gerardo Ernesto Delgado Carrero is a human rights activist and national coordinator of “Operation Freedom.” He is the also the National Coordinator of the “Youth Organization Venezuelans,” pioneers in setting up camps for students and young dissidents under the method of “Organized Civil Resistance” and “No Violence.” These individuals camped at UNDP headquarters in Caracas in 2014 calling for “National Consciousness.”
In the early morning of May 8, 2014, officers of the Bolivarian National Guard (GNB) conducted an operation to evict youths who had spent days in tents across Venezuela to protest the democratic crisis. The detainees totaled 300 people, including Gerardo Carrero. Gerardo was peacefully protesting just outside the UNDP office in Caracas, Venezuela.
Gerardo was held for months by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN) at the headquarters of Plaza Venezuela in a cell 5 levels below ground; many call this place “the grave.” After allegations of cruel treatment and torture, Gerardo was transferred to a cell in SEBIN headquarters in The Helix, where he remains in detention today.
After more than 20 hearings, he was accused without evidence of multiple crimes including conspiracy, incitement to disobey the law, obstruction of traffic on public roads and minor drug usage.
On March 3, 2015, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights resolution issued protective measures in favor of Carrero.
On 28 October 2015, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations (UN) reported their belief that, after a detailed analysis of each case, the detention of Gerardo Carrero, among others detained in the SEBIN Helicoid in Caracas, was arbitrary.
Gerardo Carrero has developed serious health problems. He suffers stomach issues, has 28 abscesses in his skin, and has fevers with temperatures above 40 Celsius so far are receiving the necessary medical care.
In an effort to pursue freedom, Gerardo Carrero is parliamentary candidate for the Venezuelan elections, to be held on December 6, 2015. He is running on the presumption of innocence established by the Constitution of Venezuela. The vote could bring about his freedom, which at the moment has not been granted. Lend your voice and share a solidarity tweet to help #SetThemFree!

VENEZUELA / Detained May 10, 2014

UPDATE: The Venezuelan government has released a number of political prisoners over the last couple of months. On 2 June 2018, Renzo Prieto was one of them.

Renzo Prieto is currently enrolled in undergraduate studies at the headquarters of the Mérida State UPEL and is a graduate of the University of Tachira as a Technician in Sports Training. He known to his friends as “The Christ” for his physical resemblance to Jesus Christ. Renzo became known nationally when he undertook a 19-day trek to get from San Cristobal to Caracas with the slogan “Peace Walk”. He asserts that since then his steps have been followed frequently by the Bolivarian Intelligence Service (SEBIN).

Prieto was arrested in Caracas one afternoon while trying to enter a mall in the city; he was surrounded and then arbitrarily detained by several Venezuelan police officers. After 6 deferred hearings, he was accused of many offences, including criminal intent association (without proof of associates and evidence of purpose); obstruction of public roads, drug trafficking and arms manufacturing explosives, charges for which Renzo has not been tried.On 28 October 2015, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention of the United Nations (UN) reported their belief that, after a detailed analysis of each case, the detention of Renzo Prieto, among others detained in the SEBIN Helicoid in Caracas, was arbitrary. During the December 2015 parliamentary elections, Renzo Prieto was elected to the Venezuelan parliament. Despite the immunity bestowed on elected members of parliament, Renzo remained imprisoned for a long period of time. Lend your voice and share a solidarity tweet to help #SetThemFree!

VENEZUELA / Detained November 26, 2014

UPDATE: Gilberto was released in December 2016 after two years of imprisonment.

Gilberto Sojo is a community leader for the political party “Popular Will” in his town of San Agustin, Caracas. He was arbitrarily arrested by the testimony of an anonymous patriot cooperating and taken to prison along with his wife and his 3 year old son. His wife and son were released 24 hours after the arrest.

Gilberto was being held at the headquarters of the Bolivarian Intelligence Service of Venezuela, the SEBIN of The Helix in Caracas. Sources close to Sojo believe that the detention was a result of Sojo’s collection of signatures to convene a constituent assembly. He was accused of individual terrorism. Gilberto was hospitalized in April 2016 for a hypertensive emergency brought on by prison conditions and was suffering from insufferable pain in his cervical vertebrae.

Gilberto Sojo was elected to parliament in the December 2015 elections. He ran on the presumption of innocence established by the Constitution of Venezuela. Despite Venezuelan law that provides immunity from criminal trial for members of parliament, Gilberto remains imprisoned. Lend your voice and share a solidarity tweet to help #SetThemFree!

VENEZUELA / Detained February 18, 2014

UPDATE: After nearly three years in prison and one hundred days of protests calling for his release, opposition leader and political prisoner, Leopoldo Lopez, was released from prison. On July 11, Venezuelan authorities released Lopez on “humanitarian grounds” for his “health situation,” according to the Venezuelan Supreme Court. Although he remains under house arrest and lacks full freedom, Lopez is now with his family and vows to renew his efforts as a leader of the democratic opposition movement.

Fellow pro-democracy supporters celebrated the news about Lopez, but have continued to rally for the release of the estimated 400 remaining political prisoners in the country. Join Lopez and other Venezuelans in speaking up for political prisoners by learning their stories at helpsetthemfree.org/Venezuela.

The allegations and charges against Lopez have been criticized by the international community, which has agreed that he is a political prisoner of conscience, and has been denied a fair trial. The Court of Appeals in Caracas has even “ignored” the lead prosecutor of the original case, Franklin Nieves, and his confession of being “pressured to falsely charge” Lopez, according to the Human Rights Foundation. Despite the support for his release, Lopez remains detained in relation to the 2014 pro-democracy protests that challenged Venezuelan President Maduro’s authoritarian regime.

Since his imprisonment began in 2014, Lopez has been denied visits from his wife, Lilian Tintori, and family, who are often humiliated with invasive visiting procedures when trying to see him. His requests for legal representation have been denied, and he’s endured inhumane prison treatment. The rigged trials, and harsh sentence are a gross violation of Lopez’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association. On August 12, 2016, a Venezuelan appellate court decided to uphold Leopoldo’s 14-year sentence for charges of conspiracy, public incitement, arson and damage to public property.

VENEZUELA / Detained May 2, 2014

UPDATE: On November 18, 2016, Venezuela released Rosmit Mantilla; he has said he will continue to support democracy in the country, and continue hoping for the release of fellow political prisoners. Mantilla was a student studying Communications in Caracas, Venezuela, but in 2014, was arbitrarily arrested due to his activities promoting the equal rights of the LGBTI community. He is the first openly gay politician to have been elected to the National Assembly of Venezuela, as well as a member of the Voluntad Popular party. Like Mantilla, fellow Venezuelan activists Renzo Prieto and Gilberto Sojo were also elected to the National Assembly in the 2015 elections, but are still unfairly jailed due to charges stemming from Venezuela’s 2014 protests.

Rosmit’s charges are public incitement and public intimidation; obstruction of roads; fire to public and private buildings; violent damage and conspiracy. He was accused, and is awaiting to go to the trial and be sentenced.

VENEZUELA / Detained February 19, 2015

UPDATE: In November 2017, Antonio was able to escape house arrest and was allowed to enter Colombia by the Colombian government, who then helped him travel to Spain to reunite with his family. He continues to fight for the release of Venezuela’s political prisoners from Spain.

Mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma was arrested in his office on accusations of a coup attempt. Having with excessive force by the police, he was charged with supporting groups plotting to use violent acts to destabilize the country, conspiracy and staging a US-funded attempted coup against President Nicolas Maduro.

VENEZUELA / Detained March 19, 2014

UPDATE: After being under house arrest for one year, Daniel Ceballos was rearrested on August 25, 2016, and he remains imprisoned.

Daniel Ceballos, human rights activist and former mayor of San Cristóbal in Táchira was suspended and dismissed by the Venezuelan Supreme Court for contempt of court for failing to prosecute participants in Venezuelan peaceful protests in 2014. His charges include rebellion and conspiracy. He is currently going under a judicial process to receive the final decision on his sentence. On May 17, Ceballos won his primary election held by the opposition coalition in advance of the general elections later this Fall. A week after his win, he was moved from the military prison he was held in since last year to a regular jail outside of Caracas. After the move, Ceballos joined Leopoldo Lopez in a 30-day hunger strike.

VENEZUELA / Detained May 1, 2014

UPDATE: Yeimi Varela was released on December 2016 together with other political prisoners in Venezuela.

Yeimi Varela was the security person in the office of the Venezuelan human rights organizations A Worlds Without Censorship and Human and Free. After taking part in anti-government protests in 2014, the office in Caracas was raided by the SEBIN (Bolivarian Intelligence Service), and he was arbitrarily detained and accused of conspiracy and possession of explosives. He was accused, and is awaiting to go to the trial and then be sentenced.